"I thought it would be overcrowded and boring. The first thing that went through my mind was 'How many things could you do on a ship?'"
As travel professionals, you've no doubt heard similar perceptions from clients who have yet to cruise. So when TravelPulse Canada had the opportunity to bring a guest on the annual Royal Caribbean International President's Cruise, I decided to invite my wife's brother, someone I've known for close to 40 years.
I was confident Gord would be blown away. He's a truck driver for his day job and he's also a skilled horse trainer and talented photographer. He loves meeting new people and seeing new perspectives and places, so I pegged him as an ideal 'new-to-cruise' candidate. He's good company too, which made the decision easier.
"I thought we'd spend half our time in lineups trying to get to things, and I thought the guests would all be senior citizens," Gord told me as I interviewed him on the balcony of our stateroom aboard Ovation of the Seas, with the spectacular scenery of Alaska as a backdrop.
Gord is pushing hard at 60, so he already qualifies for some senior discounts, but he's blissfully unaware of that fact. Living near Halifax, he's seen cruise ships in the harbour, but never even considered getting on one. His travel experience is mostly road trips and cheap-and-cheerful Caribbean all-inclusives.
Arriving to check-in at Pier 91 in Seattle on a hot, sunny day, there were two ships boarding and a sea of people. At first glance, it appeared chaotic.
"I found it stressful at first. It was crowded, hot and stuffy," Gord said. "But the lines moved quickly and the staff were very helpful."
I had advised Gord not to bring a drone and skip purchasing duty-free booze until his way home. So of course he brought two drones and a bottle of Crown Royal. This complicated check-in, but the drones were allowed aboard and he'll be reunited with his liquor on our return to Seattle.
Up close, the ship was bigger than Gord had imagined. He loved the stateroom and its clever design that was somehow able to absorb his vast amount of camera equipment and collection of t-shirts with slogans like "Sarcasm: Just Another Service I Offer."
"The cabin was so clean and beautiful and the view was amazing. And when you close the balcony and cabin doors, it's so quiet. You don't hear the engines or noise from the corridor or neighbouring cabins."
The first stop was lunch at the Windjammer Marketplace buffet. "There was loads of choice. It was fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. The crew members were so friendly and it felt like they were genuinely glad to see us, not just doing a job," Gord said. "That really surprised me."
Gord is amazed by Ovation's ability to absorb 4,000 passengers and 1,500 crew members without feeling crowded.
"I'm totally amazed by the number and variety of bars and restaurants, the beautiful pools and the quiet spaces. You never feel like you're going to the same place over and over again. And everything is so clean and constantly being cleaned," Gord said.
As a social butterfly, my brother-in-law talks to anyone who will listen, so that has been a highlight of his first cruise experience.
"Meeting and talking to the crew is one of the best things on the ship. It's fascinating to learn about their lives and families. They're just like us, trying to get by in life. I'd recommend to anyone to talk to them - it's guaranteed you're going to enjoy yourself."
The same goes with Gord's fellow cruisers. "People are very friendly and quick to chat. It's fun to talk to people from all over the world, of all races and all ages."
Gord found that getting on and off the ship was well-organized and easy, even in Skagway, where recent landslide damage to the pier meant a short tender to the shore.
He also loved the shore excursion experience in Juneau, where we took an evening whale-watching cruise with dinner included. We saw plenty of whales and bald eagles, ate local cod and reindeer sausage and savoured Alaska's incredible landscapes.
Complaints? Sure, Gord has a few. He finds the desk chair in the cabin uncomfortable with its low back. As a big pop drinker, he's not thrilled with the concept of having to carry a plastic cup around in order to access the sweet liquid.
Those are tiny quibbles though, and it's safe to say Gord has become a cruise convert. "I would absolutely go again. I wouldn't hesitate. The value is amazing. The variety is incredible. The ship is like a rock, you hardly feel the movement. And you get to see different places every day."
Gord heard all the media criticism of the cruise industry during the pandemic - all the 'petri dish' comments for example -- and it gave him some doubts about getting on a ship. The cruise on Ovation changed that perception.
"These people are doing absolutely everything they can to do things right and offer a safe experience. If you want to wear a mask, no one is going to judge you. I feel safer here than at home."
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